German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday (April 14) Europe would have to be involved in any internationally backed agreement to end the war in Ukraine.

"The US government knows that if it wants Europe’s signature on any agreement whatsoever – and that signature is necessary, because Europe must be part of the process and also part of the peace agreement – then Europe must be involved." he said at a news conference in Berlin with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The Chancellor also announced plans to cooperate with Ukraine on drone and battlefield data technology

and urged Kyiv to push forward with reforms with an eye to joining the European Union in the future. Merz said joining the EU would be a strategically important step, but added that it was not achievable in the immediate future.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BERLIN, GERMANY (APRIL 14, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. ARRIVAL OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ AND UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY ALONG WITH GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER BORIS PISTORIUS AND UKRAINIAN DEFENCE MINISTER MYKHAILO FEDOROV TO AN OFFICIAL SIGNING CEREMONY

2. VARIOUS OF PISTORIUS AND FEDOROV SIGNING DOCUMENTS

3. ZELENSKIY AND PISTORIUS SHAKING HANDS

4. MERZ LOOKING ON WITH PAN TO ZELENSKIY

5. GERMAN MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, REEM ALABALI RADOVAN HOLDING DOCUMENTS AND SHAKING HANDS WITH UKRAINIAN ECONOMY MINISTER OLEKSII SOBOLEV / END OF SIGNING CEREMONY

6. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ, SAYING:

"I remain firmly convinced that there will be no deals struck with Russia behind Europeans’ backs. I have said this on many occasions, both publicly and in private. The US government knows that if it wants Europe’s signature on any agreement whatsoever – and that signature is necessary, because Europe must be part of the process and also part of the peace agreement – then Europe must be involved."

7. MERZ SPEAKING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ, SAYING:

"In recent years, Germany has provided an unprecedented level of support to Ukraine. Since 2026, we have become Ukraine’s most important bilateral partner. This is evident above all in our strong military support. And today we have agreed on further comprehensive support measures, including in the area of air defence. This includes long-range weapons, drones and artillery ammunition."

9. ZELENSKIY LISTENING

10. ZELENSKIY AND MERZ

11. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ, SAYING:

"Another example of this is the agreement on the exchange of digital combat data for the development of new weapon systems, which has just been signed by our defence ministers. Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot overestimate the importance of this agreement. The fact that we are now developing such a system in Europe together with Ukraine also creates a greater degree of independence for Europe. This is a good decision."

12. PHOTOGRAPHER

13. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ, SAYING:

"In addition to all this, we also share the goal of Ukraine’s entry into the EU. Germany supports this goal, even though we both know that we cannot fully achieve it in the short term. But Ukraine’s accession would be a strategically important step towards greater security and prosperity in Europe. That is why we, as the German Government, are encouraging Ukraine to press ahead even more vigorously with reforms in the country, particularly in areas such as the fight against corruption and strengthening the rule of law."

14. VARIOUS OF MEDIA

15. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ, SAYING:

"We want to guide Ukraine on how it can be brought closer to the European Union, step by step. This is not second-class membership, but a process of approximation."

16. ZELENSKIY AND MERZ IN VIEWFINDER OF CAMERA

17. PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

18. FAMILY PHOTO OF GERMAN AND UKRAINIAN MINISTERS

19. CLOSE UP OF ZELENSKIY AND MERZ

20. ZELENSKIY SHAKING HANDS WITH VARIOUS MINISTERS, ALL WALKING OFF AFTER PHOTO